Stroud

Stroud's population increased by about 4,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 110,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Stroud increased by 4.5%, from just under 108,000 to 113,000.

The addition of almost 4,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Stroud was home to, on average, 1.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Stroud

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Stroud increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 13.0% of people in Stroud are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Stroud by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

Stroud saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13.2%) people aged 16 to 74 in Stroud said they were self-employed, compared with 11.2% in 2001. The percentage that were employed remained close to 54.7%.

Across the region, only South Hams (from 15.2% to 17.5%) and Mendip (from 12.2% to 14.2%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of self-employed people.

During this period, Stroud went from having the 13th-highest to the twelfth-highest percentage of self-employed people out of 309 English local authority areas.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Stroud saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just under one in eight (11.9%) people aged 16 and over in Stroud said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 10.1% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 56.6% to 53.3%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 8.4% to 11.2%) and East Devon (from 10.0% to 11.8%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

During this period, Stroud went from having the 24th-highest to the 11th-lowest percentage of people who had divorced or separated out of 309 English local authority areas.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Stroud

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Stroud was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.3 points.

In 2011, 30.8% of respondents in Stroud gave this religion on the census compared with 17.5% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 67.5% said they were Christian, compared with 81.4% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 8.6% to 8.8%.

In Stroud, 8.1% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.9% in 2001. In South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Stroud increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and Stroud by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Stroud

The percentage of Stroud residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.5% to 3.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 8.1%, while the percentage of Stroud residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.6%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Stroud, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Stroud, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.2% in 2001 to 12.1% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11.1% to 17.0%.

The rate of social housing in Stroud fell from 14.2% to 12.8%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75.9% to 73.2%.

Private renting in Stroud increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Stroud, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Stroud working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.0% to 10.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Stroud decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Stroud, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Stroud residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.2% to 4.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.0% in 2001. The percentage of Stroud residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.8% to 12.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Stroud decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Stroud, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Stroud residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.2% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Stroud remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Stroud by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Stroud, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.5% to 7.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38.0%) households had a married couple, compared with 41.3% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Stroud, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.6% to 10.3%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Stroud with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.3% to 9.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.6%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 29.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Stroud without children increased from 61.6% to 63.3%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 8.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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